Islamabad, Jan 17 (ANI): Pakistan's Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the legal licence of former minister Babar Awan for not submitting a reply in a contempt case against him.

An 11-judge bench of the apex court headed by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry rejected Awan's request for more time to file the reply was rejected by the court, The Dawn reports.

The Supreme Court rejected his plea, saying that the 15 days time period given to Awan was enough to file a reply.

Chief justice Iftikhar asked Awan if he was given a contempt of court notice by the Lahore High Court earlier, The News reports.

On which, Justice Saqib Nisar reminded Awan that he was given the notice by a bench of the court headed by him and that the notice was rescinded once Awan requested for pardon.

The court also directed the authorities to inform President Asif Ali Zardari regarding the suspension of Awan's licence, and added that the hearing of the reference case would begin after a new lawyer's appointment. (ANI)